Chinese newspapers carried the following stories on Friday. China.org.cn has not checked the stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Beijing-Shanghai Railway to reach 380 KPH – People's Daily (Overseas Edition)

Following recent reports that the Japan's next-generation Shinkansen trains will reach speeds of 360 KPH, an official at China's Railway Ministry says that the future Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway will be even faster, reaching a speed of 380 KPH.

"The CRH32-200 and CRH3 both use our own intellectual property. Their 350 KPH designed speed is a good 30 KPH faster than the German Siemens or the French Alston", said Deputy Chief Engineer Zhang Shuguang of the Chinese Ministry of Railways. Last year the CRH3 registered a record 394.3 KPH on the Beijing-Tianjin line.

According to the Comprehensive Long-term Transportation Network Development Plan, by 2020, China's entire high-speed railway mileage will reach 18 thousand kilometres, accounting for more than 50 percent of the world high speed mileage.

China to buy 243 new passenger jets – Beijing Daily

The recovery of the Chinese civil aviation industry from the downturn is reflected in its massive aircraft procurement plan. Li Jiaxiang, director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), recently revealed that China is to buy 243 new passenger jets. After allowing for the retirement of 46 old jets, the country's civil aviation fleet will see a net rise of 197 jets. Li said the China's airline industry will add 150-200 new jets annually in the coming years.

Massive market demand is fuelling the rapid expansion of the Chinese fleet. From January to August this year, CAAC registered 150 million passengers, 25.5 million more than the same period last year, representing a 20.4 percent growth year on year. All signs are that Chinese civil aviation industry is entering a new round of rapid growth.

XAC buys Austrian aircraft parts supplier – NBD

Xi'an Aircraft Industry (Group) Limited Company (XAC), part of the Aviation Corporation of China has reached a takeover deal with Fischer Advanced Composite Components AG (FACC), Austria's largest aircraft parts supplier to Boeing. Fischer agreed to sell 91.25 percent of its stake to the Chinese buyer, according to a statement on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The Ministry commented that the takeover is "the Chinese aircraft manufacturing industry's key move to become a real rival to Boeing and Airbus."

FACC says the transaction is scheduled to complete by the fourth quarter this year and is good for the company's future development. FACC suffered a €19.6 million loss in the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

XAC is a major parts supplier for China's jumbo jet project and has signed 6 memoranda of understanding with the jet's producer Commercial Aircraft Company of China, under which XAC will provide the middle-section fuselage, outer wing box, aileron, trailing-edge flaps, leading-edge slats and spoiler of its C919 project.

Little Swan to take over Midea washing machine business – Caijing Magazine

Midea and its subsidiary, Wuxi Little Swan Company, will before long solve their internal competition issue according to an industry analyst. Midea is likely to transfer its entire washing machine business to Little Swan.

An anonymous home appliance analyst said internal competition has always been a problem between Midea and Little Swan. Along with the transfer of its own washing machine sector, Midea also plans to hand Little Swan the Hefei Royalstar washing machine company, which it also owns, in a bid to settle the problem once for all.

A Midea spokesperson would not confirm the rumour, and secretary of the board Li Feide said the group is still working on the plan.

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